Syngenta CEO Jeff Rowe launches I-RISE programme to skill 1 lakh young farmers

NEW DELHI: Syngenta global CEO Jeff Rowe on Monday applauded India's strides in agriculture while launching I-RISE (Inculcating Rural India Skill Enhancement) programme to train 1 lakh youth to prepare them for various agriculture jobs.On his maiden trip to India, Rowe participated in field demonstrations for Climate Smart Agriculture project for Haryana, interacted with farmers in Karnal and participated in drone demonstration for spraying of cropprotection solutions.Rowe elaborated on the I-RISE initiative, which supports eight Sustainable Development Goals, describing it as a "safety net for rural prosperity in India". He emphasized that the programme focuses on training and engaging rural youth in agriculture to curb migration from villages and tackle the growing challenge of a dwindling skilled farm workforce. Under I-RISE, rural youth under 35, with at least a class 10 education and farming experience, participate in a comprehensive program that includes 30 days of classroom training followed by a two-month internship. The programme is built on the 3Es approach: Educate youth in agriculture through training and mentorship; Engage them through employment and entrepreneurship opportunities; and Elevate their livelihood income.Rowe also expressed confidence in Indian farmers' ability to embrace innovation, stating, "We support farmers in adopting regenerative practices to address climate and food security challenges. We are committed to developing technologies that enhance and protect yields, commercialize new products backed by digital science, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ensure our operations remain sustainable.""We are intensely focussed on improving water use efficiency, increasing productivity of degraded land and increasing carbon storage in soil," Rowe said, highlighting the company's interventions in India have yielded substantial benefits for the farming communities.Rowe further said: "India has a well-defined policy on sustainable agriculture through its National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, and we are committed to supporting it. The project is aligned to this Mission."He added that Syngenta’s multiple initiatives in the country are also inspired by India's crucial role in the global food system and the need to support farmers in mitigating the global food crisis.Susheel Kumar, MD & country head of Syngenta India, provided further insights into the project, stating: "The project addresses the climate change challenges affecting rice production in Haryana and Punjab. The project includes soil health analysis to optimize fertilizer use, resulting in a reduction of 100 kg of urea per acre. Additionally, crop residue management is a key focus, with technologies like the Happy Seeder eliminating the harmful practice of burning crop residues - a significant issue in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, where approximately 23 million tons of residue are burned annually."